Latest news with #Laughlin
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Sunday hunting is up for debate again in the state House
A white-tailed deer is seen at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming on Aug. 8, 2015. (Tom Koerner/USFWS/CC BY 2.0) The latest effort to expand hunting on Sundays in Pennsylvania passed a key House committee with bipartisan support Tuesday. State Rep. Mandy Steele (D-Allegheny), sponsor of House Bill 1431, described the effort to repeal Pennsylvania's Sunday prohibition on hunting as a 'groundbreaking collaboration' of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Pennsylvania Game Commission, and multiple advocacy groups. The bill passed by a 18-8 vote in the House Game & Fisheries Committee, with every Democrat voting in favor and four Republicans supporting. It will next be considered by the full House. 'In my busy family with four active kids, Sundays are often our only free day of the week,' Steele said. 'Sunday could be an opportunity to educate our children about the great American tradition of protecting wild places and the deep connection to the land that comes through responsible and respectful hunting, a core value among hunters.' Steele said when delving into the issue, she learned that farmers and wildlife biologists think expanding hunting on Sundays would reduce crop damage and help the state's woods by better managing the deer herd. 'We must heed this call from so many so intimately connected with the land,' Steele said, while asking for support to end what she described as the state's 'archaic and harmful prohibition on Sunday hunting.' Gov. Tom Wolf signed a law in 2019 to allow deer hunting on three Sundays: One during archery season, one during rifle season, and one selected by the Game Commission. That law was sponsored by Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-Erie), who authored Senate Bill 67, a companion bill to Steele's proposal. Both Steele and Laughlin's bills would require at least one member of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Board of Commissioners to have an agriculture background. For years, Pennsylvania's 'blue law' prohibition of hunting on Sundays has been a hot-button issue. Supporters argue that expanding hunting on Sundays could help grow the sport, while organizations representing hikers and horseback riders have made the case that Sundays are best left without it, so they can enjoy the outdoors without concerns for their own safety from those hunting. The House passed Steele's proposal to repeal Pennsylvania's Sunday hunting ban last June by a 129-73 vote, although it did not pass the Senate. Laughlin and Steele told the Capital-Star earlier this year they're optimistic this is the session the bill could get across the finish line. State Rep. David Maloney (R-Berks), minority chair of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, voted against the proposal on Tuesday and spoke at-length about his concerns. He discussed his issues with the language about trespassing penalties, the requirement for a member of the agriculture community to be on the Game Commission Board, questioned the effectiveness of the law combatting crop damage and protecting forests, and free time. 'I don't really buy into this idea that another weekend day is going to clear up all the woes of the sportsmen and the Game Commission,' Maloney said. He added that he has never taken a position about whether or not he'd hunt on Sunday, but asked for a no-vote, believing the legislation 'complicates the issue.' In response to Maloney's concerns, Steele emphasized that the bill is being backed by a wide variety of organizations that include the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen and Conservationists, and Hunter Nation. The committee also unanimously approved House Bill 1507, authored by Steele, to allow out-of-state college students living in Pennsylvania to purchase a hunting license for the same price as residents. Steele argued it could boost hunting participation in Pennsylvania. The Game Commission, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen and Conservationists support the bill. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission also offers fishing licenses to out-of-state college students for the same price as residents, but Game Commission license fees must be approved by the General Assembly, according to a co-sponsorship memo. 'For a student surviving on ramen noodles … this could be a deciding factor between participating in the great American outdoor tradition or being priced out entirely,' she added.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Erie leaders discuss CRIZ at annual Knowledge Breakfast
Local leaders, developers and entrepreneurs gathered to get more information about Erie's city revitalization and improvement zone, better known as 'CRIZ.' The Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership hosted its fourth Knowledge Breakfast. Erie Mayor, Sen. Laughlin say CRIZ could bring reliable revenue to the City of Erie Speakers broke down the mechanics of what the CRIZ is and developers discussed how they see it as a tool that can transform the community. The vice president said that while they expect to get $15 million a year, the state still has to approve of these projects. Grow Erie hosts open house to show off years of work at Savocchio Park 'It has to check the boxes with the state so what it means and what i think everyone heard is, everyone is welcome to talk to the criz about getting a project funded however they need to understand the rules and regs and they probably need to get after it right now,' said Jake Rouch, vice president of economic development for the Erie Regional Chamber. The chamber's next knowledge breakfast will be held on June 20 and they plan to discuss tariffs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cape's Nick Laughlin poised for big season with UMaine football
Apr. 26—ORONO — Here's the first and most important thing you need to know about Cape Elizabeth's Nick Laughlin and his role with the University of Maine football team. When you bring up his name to his teammates or coaches, the first thing they do is smile. "I love Nick. He's a great guy. He's one of my good friends on the team," said quarterback Carter Peevy. "We can use him as a receiver, a running back, he's got a wide range of skills, which is really going to help us. He's from Maine. He loves this state. He loves this team. I'm really glad we've got him here." Advertisement A redshirt sophomore, Laughlin is changing positions for the Black Bears, moving to running back after starting his college career at wide receiver. The Jeff Cole Memorial Spring Game, played Saturday in a driving rainstorm at Alfond Stadium, was the first chance to see Laughlin at work in his new position. Talking about that makes everyone around the Black Bears smile even more. "Nick is going to be a stud," said offensive coordinator Mikahael Waters. "He was already a stud last year for us and made some big-time plays. We're just trying a way to get him the ball as much as we can." As a freshman, Laughlin's 22 catches were third on the team, and he had 186 yards and a touchdown. He also had three carries, including a 5-yard run at Oklahoma for the first touchdown of his career. Maine coach Jordan Stevens said he considered moving Laughlin to running back when he played the position on the scout team while redshirting during his first year with the program. Now that Laughlin has bulked up from 5 foot 8, 185 pounds he was when he arrived on campus to a solid 5-10, 210 while maintaining his quickness, the move was obvious, Stevens said. Advertisement "He's just really consistent. He's just been a steady guy. That's what he is. He's low maintenance," Stevens said. Laughlin compared his new role with Maine to the role he played at Cape Elizabeth, where coach Sean Green lined him up in a variety of spots to keep defenses guessing. That Laughlin was going to get the ball was obvious, but how? As a junior, he helped the Capers win the Class C state championship. The following season, Laughlin was a finalist for the Fitzpatrick Trophy, given to the top senior in the state. Now, it's just getting up to speed on the nuances of playing running back instead of wideout, Laughlin said. "The biggest thing for me is knowledge of the game. Reading the defenses. Especially now, playing running back, focusing more on the blocking schemes and where the defenses is going to go," he said. Advertisement In Saturday's rain, Laughlin was able to showcase his skills. He had some carries. He caught some passes. He showed a connection with Peevy and an ability to make tacklers miss. That's his greatest strength as a running back, said Laughlin's coaches. He's a Weeble. He gets hit and wobbles, but the first hit is rarely going to take him down. It's called contact balance, and maybe it's his background from playing hockey and lacrosse as well as football, but Laughlin has plenty of it. "A huge part of that is mentality, and I think he definitely has that," said running backs coach Pushaun Brown, who led the Black Bears in rushing as a player in 2010 and 2011. "He plays the game the right way." Laughlin is playing with confidence, Waters said. Peevy can't wait to see his friend in game action in the fall. The Black Bears open the season August 30 at Liberty. "I can't tell you exactly how we're going to use him this season, but if it's anything like the spring, he's going to line up in several spots," Peevy said. Advertisement Early last season, Stevens awarded Laughlin a full scholarship. Laughlin remembers being called into Stevens' office a few days after the season-opening win over Colgate to get the news. "I wasn't sure if I was in trouble," Laughlin said. Laughlin wasn't in trouble. He was just getting started. Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Up in smoke– PA Senate committee rejects House-backed bill to legalize marijuana
Pennsylvanians will have to wait longer for legal recreational marijuana after a Senate committee vote Tuesday. Just last week, the PA House of Representatives passed House Bill 1200, which would have legalized recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania under a state store model, but earlier today, the Senate Law and Justice Committee, led by Dan Laughlin, voted 7 to 3 to reject that proposal. Construction on new Edison Elementary progressing after initial delays 'There are serious challenges we can and should address right now,' said Laughlin. 'Our medical marijuana program needs critical reforms. Hemp-derived THC products are being sold openly in gas stations and tobacco shops with no regulation, no testing and no age verification. And the continued reliance on the black market poses real risks to public safety.' Laughlin said these problems could be addressed more effectively through the creation of a Cannabis Control Board, which would help regulate the state's medical marijuana program. Erie community shows support for new pope at special mass 'I have said repeatedly that a state-store model for adult-use cannabis will not pass the Senate. That's not an opinion, it's a fact,' said Laughlin. 'The House moving HB 1200 forward and sending it to the Senate was not a serious effort to legalize cannabis. It was a political move meant to shift blame for inaction, when I have yet to receive a single call from House leadership or the bill sponsors to discuss the concept.' Senator Laughlin said he remains committed to crafting a cannabis bill that would benefit all Pennsylvanians, but said a state-store model for recreational cannabis use will not pass in the Senate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill to sell legal marijuana through state stores rejected by GOP-led panel
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — A Pennsylvania Senate panel has rejected a bill advanced by Democrats that would permit the sale of recreational cannabis to adults at state-owned stores. State Sen. Dan Laughlin (R., Erie), leader of the committee, supports legalizing marijuana but said Tuesday the state store approach would unfairly shut out the private sector and small businesses, and create serious logistical hurdles and legal challenges. 'I made it pretty crystal clear that I do not believe that the state store model … has a path through the Senate,' Laughlin said during the committee hearing. The Law & Justice Committee rejected the bill 7-3, with one Democrat voting no alongside all Republicans present. Supporters of the state House's approach, including bill sponsors Rick Krajewski (D., Philadelphia) and Dan Frankel (D., Allegheny), say that it will prevent large, existing cannabis companies from dominating the industry, protecting consumers and public health. Critics say the state already has a robust medical marijuana market that should be expanded, and that the state store model, which hasn't been attempted in any other state, could lead to criminal liability for the commonwealth because cannabis is still federally illegal. At least two Democrats on the state Senate panel said Tuesday they would support a bipartisan bill that Laughlin pitched last legislative session, with one asking if Laughlin would offer it as an amendment to change the state House bill. That bill would have created a board to oversee the industry and approve sellers, and also would have allowed companies that are already licensed to sell medical cannabis — many of which are large and well-established — to start making recreational sales. Laughlin said that it isn't ready for reintroduction. Following the vote, Krajewski told Spotlight PA he was frustrated that Laughlin voted against the measure without any discussion or proposed amendments, particularly with the budget deadline fast approaching. He described the bill as the 'prime vehicle to start discussions in time for June [30].' 'We did what he told us to do: We sent them a bill,' Krajewski told Spotlight PA. 'It's fine if you disagree with elements. That's why you have a discussion and compromise.' Laughlin said he decided to bring the proposal up for a vote in his committee 'as soon as I saw the bill,' to demonstrate that it lacked the votes to make it to Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro. 'I had made it so clear that a state store model was not going to pass,' Laughlin said. 'I thought, 'I'll just put it up for a vote and show them that it didn't have the support.' It's pretty straightforward.' Laughlin said that one of his biggest issues with the bill is the cost of setting up the state-owned dispensaries. He says the state would have to spend hundreds of millions of dollars before 'we ever take $1 in sales.' 'That just does not seem like the right path to go on when the private market is ready, willing, and able to pick up when we pass cannabis,' Laughlin said. This story will be updated. If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
